Review: Original Soundtrack, "Alone in the Dark"

By all accounts the movie stinks, but for metalheads, the soundtrack is worth the price of admission.

"Alone in the Dark" is the first big Hollywood production to boast an all extreme metal soundtrack, and this is no collection of throwaway tracks. It's got some of the heaviest hitters in the business.

If you're looking for an introduction to the metal world, this two-disc set is your best bet. It covers all the bases from the goth metal of Lacuna Coil and Nightwish to the classic thrash of Death Angel and Exodus, the Gothenburg style of In Flames and Dark Tranquillity, the hardcore of Agnostic Front, the black metal of Dimmu Borgir and Cradle of Filth, the stoner rock of Fireball Ministry and the experimental metal of Meshuggah and Mnemic.

The album takes a look back at some of the best releases of the past couple of years. High points include tracks from Fear Factory ("Cyberwaste"), Machine Head ("Imperium"), Diecast ("Medieval"), Shadows Fall ("What Drives the Weak"), God Forbid ("Gone Forever") and Arch Enemy ("Dead Eyes See No Future").

The album also offers fans a preview of Soilwork's latest album, due in early March, with the title track "Stabbing the Drama." (Take my word for it, the new Soilwork is killer. Watch for my review in a couple of weeks.)

The bottom line on this soundtrack is that if you like metal, there's something here for you.

Get "Alone in the Dark."

Review: Diecast, "Tearing Down Your Blue Skies"

I've been aware of Diecast for quite a few years, but I've never really given them much of a listen. With their latest album, they've got my full attention.

God Forbid's "Gone Forever" may have the lock on the best metalcore album of 2004, but "Tearing Down Your Blue Skies" runs a close second.

The album has a much more melodic approach than the past music I'd heard from Diecast, and the group really seems to shine on numbers like "Savior" and "Medieval," which get stuck in your head after a few listens. They even cross into a sound reminiscent of Sevendust's debut album on "These Days."

Of course, they've retained a lot of the hardcore edge, pummelling the listener with screamers like "Traitor" and "Seize the Day."

Finding the right balance between melodic and brutal is one of the biggest problems most metalcore bands have, but Diecast gets it right. The heavy riffs are tailor-made for the mosh pit, and the slower parts are perfect for the sing-along.

Get "Tearing Down Your Blue Skies."